New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-24
A MURDERER AT FIFTEEN.
KILLING HoUsE-oF-REFUGE KEEPER.

THE BoYs-A CONSPIRACY TO MURDER HIM.
Storekeeper Abram r. Ward, and Ofcer Samuel F.
Denton. employees ct the House Of Refuge on Kan
daPs Island, sitting the veranda Of the house
about o'clock on Wednesday night, smoking and
chatting, when they disturbed by the sound OF
heavy body falling to the floor on the floor above
them.
I" It's only one of the boys that the watchman has
released from bis cell to get drink of water" replied
the storekeeper in answer to buried exclamation
from his companion aud they continued their chat
ting and smoking. moment later loud cries of
Boss Boss p froI many voices brought them to
their feet and they upstairs to the portion OF the
building set of for the cells of the inmates AT the
huge on gatc shouting at the top of his voice. stood
Moses j. Speghts, fifteen year-od lad.
"Tve hurt the keeper he cried. The two men
hastily unlocked the gate and dragged Moses with
them along the corridor to cell No 2 occupied by the
boy. Lying the stone floor, unconscious from
wound In the back Of his head, from which pool OF
blood had flowed, was William Edgar Cole the night
keeper. Speghts thrust into his CELL and the
keeper was carried downstairs to the hospital Two
hours later, after all efforts to revive him mad been
fruitless, he taken the East River In
rowboat to the Harlem Hospital In East One-hundred'
and-twentieth-st. Iie died sos a. m yesterday
The murderer taken to the Twenty ninth Precinct
Station and locked up, the charge against him on the
books of the botter being felonious assault"
Yesterday ming he sent to the Harlem Police
Court and from there sent by Justice Weide before
Coroner Nugent, the Coroner under the new law hav-
ing jurisdiction in such The boy made full
confession of the murder. which brought to light
plot formed by himself and five other boys, ranging
In age from twelve to fifteen years, to murder the
keeper take the keys Of the gate and cells from his
body. let the boys out and make their escape from
the island
The boy murderer Is exceedingly large for his age
His eyes small glistening and restless and his
forehead is low and fetreatng. He was sent TO the
House of Refuge from North Castle. Westchester
County by Justice othe Peace at his fathers request,
because he ugly. unruly and uncomfortable. bis
fathers namo ia john ). Speights, much respected
farmer. The bov came to the island on Juno s. and
according TO the superintendent has behaved we'll
But he became homesck, he said, and wanted to 20
home. The boys who were in the plot with him are
Grant Smith, Fred. Wesley, Buchanan Bernard and
Schoonmaker
The plot was conceived four days ago, and it de-
voved Jon Speights TO strike the blow. although ne
said that Grant Smith laid all the plans Bernard.
Buchanan aud Schoonmaker backed out so that
Smith. Wesley and Speghts were the ones LETT to do
Wesley stole baseball club and hid it in Spegbts's
bed and IL was with that weapon that the latter
struck the fatal blow At niGht when the boys retire
they usually hang the shirts that they have worn
during the day. the cell door so that tho keeper,
when he makes his found, tell that the boys are
in their rooms. To entice the keeper into the cell,
speigh,s did not hang up his sairt Noticing that
Speiehtss shirt was not IN its customary place the
keeper unlocked the coll door and stepped into the
room. The boy lay mis- right side with the broken
baseball club in his hand. io feigned to be asleep,
roughly to aw aiken him. Speghts rose quickly In bed
and struck the keeper savage blow over the lett
temple.
Cole staggered and partly fell but regainng
strength he started toward the corridor to call tor
assistance The boy jumped out OF bed and dealt the
keeper two fsrce blows the back of the head,
crushing the base Of the skull The man sank to tue
foor with loud groan, and remained unconscious
until he died The youthful murderer took the large
bunch of KEYS from tho dying keeper and went to
Wesicys cell which i. No. II on the same ter to
liLerae his CON anion in the plot Wesley would not
90 aud Speghts went to tie gate and tried to un,
lock IT, lie could not find the right key the cries OF
the boys who had been awakened by the noise OF the
strugge and of those who awake already fright
ened him. and he joined them at the top oil his voice.
The storekeeper aud officer then locked him up.
After ne airing the boys story and the sworn state
ment of the storekeeper and policeman, coroner
Nugent had Spcighs remanded To the IomDs untl the
inauest which will be held on Wednesday Mr.
speichts was sent FOR. J. C. Jones' the superintendent
NJ the House OF Refuge refused TO give history of
Speighis and the boys associated with him IN the
crime In the afternoon they were not restricted be-
yond the usual limits a rainy day. Mr.. Jones SAID
that the bows accessories, because they dd
! not aid in tho killing. Coroner Nugent, however,
ordered Wesley TO be locked up until he wanted him
| Cole was appointed keeper on November i3,
1854 and mad been n valuable man. lie was generally
liked by his superiors and the boys. lie was twenty
eight years old and is sad that he had no friends
| He came from Long Island City Deputy Coroner
Oxeaghcr made autopsy last night, and certified
| that Coles death was caused by fractured skull.